Delhi, October 19 – Emirates passengers were stranded for 17 hours in Delhi after a bird strike damaged the Boeing 777’s nose cone on arrival from Dubai. Flight EK517, linking Indira Gandhi International Airport with Dubai International Airport, was set to leave Delhi at 4:25 PM local time on Saturday, October 17, 2026, yet ultimately departed near 10 AM the next morning after a delay of roughly 17.5 hours.
The bird strike occurred during the aircraft’s arrival from Dubai, prompting Emirates to hold the return service for required repairs. Airport personnel inspected clear damage to the nose cone, which shields the weather radar and must be fully assessed before any further flight. The airline confirmed the need for technical work and prioritized complete clearance of the Boeing 777.
Emirates provided hotel accommodation for the affected passengers and issued an apology for the overnight disruption. The carrier stressed that the safety of passengers and crew would not be compromised while repairs proceeded, and no injuries were reported. The precise scope of the nose-cone damage and the exact number of travelers impacted were not detailed publicly.
Bird strikes continue to pose operational challenges for commercial aviation, particularly on approach and landing at busy hubs such as Delhi. Damage to a key area like the nose cone can temporarily remove a long-haul aircraft from service, force schedule changes on the Delhi-Dubai route, and necessitate hotel stays until the jet is restored and ready for departure.